Combination desk and file



Aug. 23, 1927; -1,64o,277

J. A. HUGHES COMBINATION DESK AND FILE ireddune 11 1925 1o `Sheets-Sheen; 1-

4 INVENTOR.

M441! ATTORNEY' Aug. 23,1927. 1,640,277

J. A. HUGHES COMBINATION DESK 4ANDF'ILE Filed June ll v1926 10 Sheets-Sheet 2v 1/ yATTORNEY.

Aug. 23, S1927.

J. lA. HUGHES COMBINATION DESK AND FILE Filed June l1 1926 l0 Sheets-Sheet 3 m. m w N I ATTORNEY.

Aug. 23,1927. 1,640,2 77

J. A. HUGHES COMBINATION DESK AND FILE Filed June 11 192s 1o Sheets-Sheet 4 ,277 Aug 23 1927' j J. A.- HUGHES l 640 COMBINATION DESK AND FILE l Fivled Jupe l1 1926- l0 Sheets-Sheet 5 mum INI/ENTOR.

Aug. 23,1927. 1 1;640.217

J. A. HUGHES COMBINATION DESK AND Frm` Filed June 11 192s 10 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVEN TOR.

4 ATTORNEY.

.l 23 1 L64() 277 Aug 9427 J. A. HUGHES COMBINATION DESK AND FILE n Filed June 11 1926 losheets-Sheet 7 Fllg. ZZ.'

` INVENT R. JZmAZYzy/zes/ ZM A TTORNE Y.

Aug; 23, 19'27".`

J. A. HUGHES COMBINATION DESK AND FIL Filed' June 11 192s l0 ShetS-Sheet 8 I N VEN TOR.

A TTORNE Y.

J. A. HUGHES COMBINATION DESK AND FILE Aug. 23,1927. 1,640,277

Filed June 11 1926 10 sheets-Sheet 9 Y "-10,4 zo Fa 6 6' 3305 il 32 3 l i' ,im 6 y 15,1 14,6 a7 14 151 145 145 las 4s F9,Z3.

INVENTOR. Jalmgzgghes/ ATTORNEY.

' 1540277 Agg' 23 1927' J. A. HUGHES f COMBINATION DESK AND FILE Filed June 11 1926 10 Sheets-Sheet l0 l iatented Aug. 23, 1927.

UNlTED STATES orifice.,

:T01-IDFA. Ii'l'IG-IES, OF WAGO', TEXAS.

COMBINAIIGN DESK AND FILE.

Application led June 1 1,

ance with this invention can be employed for any purposes for which it is found ap plicabe, and the invention has for its object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, an article of furniture of the class lo referred to having means, when the article is thrown in open position, Vin convenient reach of a typist or accountant for the filing; of typed records or work, or for convenient access to filed memoranda so that the same can be examined or removed and recorded thereon and replaced after the records have been made.

A further object of the invention is tovprovide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth,

fl an article of furniture for otice use, termed a combination desk and file and capable of being folded in a compact manner when not desired for use and stored in a comparatively small space.

A further object of the invention is to pro vide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth an artic`e of furniture for office use, termed a combined desk and file and including a pair of synchronously shiftable supporting 3U units for a pair of typewriters or calculating,f

machines or for one of each, and two pair of synchronously shiftable filing units, each pair of filing units being` common to a snpport and shiftable when the article of furniture is opened for use by typists or accountants to lateral open positions with respect to their associated support to be in convenient reach of the typist or accountant. and further whereby when the article au of furniture is closed the filing units will be arranged in abutting,r closed Vpositions and superposed with respect to the supporting units for the purpose to protect these latter.

A further object of the invention is to pro- 'l5 vide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth an article of furniture for ofiice equipment, including two synchronously slnftable pair of .filing units, and with the umts of each pair shiftalile in opposite directions to be an` 5U rana'ed in open position laterally with respect laterally disposed withy respect to a support 1926. Serial No. 115,392.

can be swung on a vertical axis towards and away from the support, and further whereby the support, associated with keach pair of units, will be elevated, on the shifting of a tiling` unit to open position, to arrange a typewriter or calculating machine carried thereby at thedesired position for use by a typist or accountant.`

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, an article of furniture for oiiice equipment comprising` two pair of normally closed. synchronously shiftable filing units, a normally lowered typewriter or calculating machine support common to each pair of filing units, and means whereby said supports are synchronously elevated to position a` typewriter or calcuating machine for use when said units are synchronously shifted to open position and supported laterally with respect to the sides of said support when these latter are elevated, under such conditions providing for convenient access to each of the open filing* units.

Further objects of the invention are to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, an article of furniture for oilice equipment, termed a. combination desk and file, which is comparatively simple in its construction and arrangement, conveniently shifted to open and closed position, portable, strong', i'ireproof, compact when shifted to closed position, thoroughly efficient in its use, and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

lVith the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter more specifically do scribed and illustrated in the accompanying` drawings, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to bc understood that changes, variations and modifications can be resorted to which fall within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views: t

Figure 1 is a perspective view, of an article of furniture in accordance with this invention and with the same in c`osed position.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure l with Vthe article of furniture in open position for use.

Figure is perspective View ci the article ot furniture in an extended position for use and with certain of the elements thereof removed Figure 4 is a perspective View of the article ot 'furniture when folded or closed and vwith certain ol` the elements thereof removed.

Figure 5 is a vertical transverse section of the device when in a closed position.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view in longitudinal section, taken at one end ot the machine.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary View, in longitudinalfsection taken at lthe other end of the device.

Figure 8 is a side elevation, partly in section, at one end of the devicewith the parts in extended position.

Figure 9 'is a fragmentary view, in lt ansverse section, illustrating a pair of tiling casesor cabinets in closed position.

Figure' 10 v.is a vertical. sectional view oi structure shown in Figure 9.

Figure l1 is a fragmentary view, in plan, illustrating a support for a tiling cabinet.

Figure 12 is a horizontal sectional view through one of 'the tiling cabinets.

Figure 18 is auhorizontal sectional View through one ol the tiling cases or a cabinet and further illustrating the4 latter in position when swung towards a typewriterl or calculating `machine support.

Figure'14 is a fragmentary view: in detail, illustrating the loc-king means tor maintaining` the tiling cabinet in shifted position.

Figure 15 is a detail viewv ot Vone ot the elements of the device shown in Figure 14.

Figure 1G is a section on line .1P-16, Figure 14.

Figure 17 is a vertical sectional view on line 1?17 Figure 5.

Figure 18 is a fragmentary view, in transverse section, illustrating a tiling cabinet or case in open position and its lateral disposition with respect to a typewriter or calculating machine support.

Figure 19 is a fragmentary view, partly in section, illustrating` the shifting 'means for` a tiling case or cabinet.

Figure 20 is a section on line 2O Figure 19.

Figure 21 is a transverse sectional view illustrating' an elevating ydevice for shitting a calculating machine from its position when set for use.

Figure 22 is'an inverted plan view illustrating certain elements ot'said eleva-ting device shown in Figure 2l.

Figure 23 is a perspective view illustrating a latch member t'or the cover ot the {iling case or cabinet.

An article of furniture tor oiiiceuse, in

yaccordance with this invention termed a combination desk and file, includes two pair oi synchronously shiftable normallyv closed suspended tiling units, the units of each pair,

-movable supports, each support beine proximity to a portable tri.

when shifted to an open and closed position moving in opposite directions with rcspect to each other, a pair of normally lowered, synchronously operated, verticail' ,r

g common to a pair ot tiling units and providing` means for supporting or farrying a typewriter ora calculating machine to position the latter tor use when the irticle oit iurniture is shifted to open position., a trucli common to said units and supports, and means carried by the truck and connected to said units and vertically movable sup )erts to provide for the synchronous shitting' ot' the units and supports when the article ol furniture is moved to open and closed positio s. rlhe said means providing lor opening and closing the tiling units and for positioning these latter when open at each side ot the supports and tor suspending the units over the supports when the combined desk and file is in closed position.

Thetiling units oil one pair are indicated at 1 and 2 and the tiling units of the other pair at 3 and 4. The supports two in number tor carrying` or supporting typewriters or calculating machines or one ot' each, are indicated generally at 5 and 6. vwillhen the article ot furniture' is in open position, the

yunits 1 and 2 are supported in open position and spaced in sidewise relation 'ith respecY to the support 5 and the units and 4 are arranged in a like manner with respect to the support G, or .in other 'words w ien an article of furniture is open the tiling unit:`4 are arranged in lateral disposition with respect to the sides et the support. rl`he tiling units are furthermore so set up that they can be swung towards the supports when desired. lhen the article ot furniture is closed, the tiling units 1 and are ciscd and arranged in sidewise abutting position and further superposed with respect to the support 5, and the units and 4 are ari-ang v, in a similar manner with respect o the port 6. 'ilhen the article ot furniture closed, the supports are positionci tti -l in close iclr referred to generally by the reference c raracter il l[he units l and 2 are opposite`y f` respect to each other and the nosed with s il and lill;

are arranged in a like manner. The supports 1()r and a lpair et' end walls l1, 1Q. which are formed integral with the bottom Each i and with reference filing unit further includes a shiftahle closure or cover referred to generally by the re't'erence character and formed of a top Wall 14, a pair o1 end walls l5. 16 and an outer and an inner side `will 1i', 1d reslgiectirely.` The side walls otf the closure, lid or cover 13 are oit' less heightI than the end walls 15 and 16 t-liereol lllhen `the filing unit is closed the walls l5 and lo thereof orerlap'the Walls 11 and l! o t the body portion, the side Wall 1T ol2 the closure is arranged outwardly with respect to the shiitteble side Wall 8 and the side Wall 1S oit the closure is arranged above the shittable side Wall 9 and in this connection. see ltigure 1l). When the filing unit is open the top Wall oit the closure 1,3 is arrangeil in sideufise relation with4 respect to the bottom 10 of the unit, see Figure 2, and is 'tin'ther spaced there from. the side Wall 8 is spaced tronik the `bottoni l() oi' the body portion 'ot' the unit, the side welll) is spaced 'troni the body portion oit the unit, that is to sa'y the bottoni l() and end Walls 11 and 12 and the end Walls 1o and 16 oit the closure 13 `oppose the end ualls `11 and 12, are spaced therefrom, and further project laterally with respect thereto, and in this connection see `Figure 2. lli/Then a pair ot units are closedthat is to say the units 1 and 2 or the units 3 and i', they will be inthe posi tion asshown in Figures 9 and 10 oi" the drawings, and when open will assunie the position as shown in Figure 2 of the drawings. W'hen a unit is closedthe cover 13 thereof is arranged inoyerlapping posit-ion with respect tothe body portion oliV a unit, as shown :in Figures 9 and 10. The cover i 13 Ylor each unit-'is normally latched to provide for the sanieto assume the position shown in .lligure When the unit is closed and the position shown in Figure 2 when the unit is open. The closure or cover 13 soset up7 .that :litter the unit has been opened it can be swung upon the top of the body portion ot the unit to provide a rest or a table and this feature `Will he hereinafter reterred to.

Each tiling); unit has associated with the body portion thereof a support thereior and as each ot said supports is 'ot the saine construction, but one will he described as the description ot one Will apply to the other, to Figure 8 each support c iis-ists ot a plate 197 provided at its outer side with a depending' tlangeQO, at its inner ond with an 'opstanding transversely extendinn` flange 21 and further iornied with an inwardly extending' rectangular extension i2 atviits outer portion. Thewextension 22 is provided with a pair ot rect-angular slots 23, The extension 22 at itsouter side is provided with a lateral lup; 25. llllith reference to Figure 18 it will loe` seen that the plate 15) is provided. at its inner side with a. depending flange `2(3 and that the extension tion, but one'will be des scription ot one will apply to the other` side wall 18 ot the closure 13.

'22 is formed with a dependingl flange 27 the 4inner side thereof. lach support .is mounted to slide upony a carrier therefor and as each carrier is ot' the saine construe fibech the devllach oit said carriers, with reference to lgure et consits oit` a trarne i'ornied oii a pair of lengthwise opposed spaced bars 28, and with the latter .having its inner portion inset as at 80 and the said har 2l) conforms in contour substantially to the inner side ot the support. At the outer ond oit the hars 28, 29 they are inturned, as at 31 and tixedly secured to a depending triangular shaped plate 29 are ,inturued at and are secured to a vertically extending; plate 34, Which acts as a spacing ineens and a support tor a purpose to be presently referred to.

Associatedwith each et thelilinp units is an opening and closing mechanism therefor and as the said mechanisms are oi" like constructioin but one `will be deficribcd as the description et one applies to the other. rthe opening and closing inechanisnii einployed with the units 1 andi). are oppositely dispose with respect to euich otlier und the opening and closingl mechanism for the units?) and are oppositely disposed `tornied ot two portions 3:3 and which are angularly disposed with respect to each other and with the portion terined the upper portion und oi' greater length than the portion Sii. The upper end et' the portion 35 is :torlned with an angularly dicposed` part 37, which normally engages n, latchinn' ineniber 518 carried ly the inner Secured to an end Wall ot the body portion o ii the unit is a ixed pivot 39 having mounted thereon the lower end ot a sevinginn` link 4;() and the upper end ot the lutter is pirolally conn-ected to a flange fill carried by the outrr side wall 8 olf the unit. Pivotully coi'inocted at itsI upper end to the iiangi'e Lil, is a cleinnul,n inglink 42, which is pivotally connected at its other end to a pivot pin fr?) which oxteiuls through an. end Wall et the body portion oi theunit and has mounted thereon. of said Wall the lower end oi an upstandingg link 4:4; haring a curved upper po lon which is piyotally conne ted at l5 'to the inner tace of an end Wally ot the cloeure 13. Carried by an end Wall ot the body portion ot the unit is a pii 4G, upon Vwhich is mounted a lever arnA` i7 the latter being;

The inner ends ot the bars i8 and pivoted at its upper vend as at 48- to lan end wall ofthe closure 13 and having its lower end forming stop which engages the link`44 to arrest the closing movement vof iclosure 13. Mounted on the pivot 39 is a link' 49 which is pivotally connected as at 50 at the point of joinder of the parts 35v and 36 of the upstanding link 51. Carried by each end wall of the body portion of the unit, is a pair of spaced pivots 52, 53 and mounted 'on the former is a lever arm 54, which'is pivotally connected at its lower endj as at 55, to the lower end ot' a link 56, which has its upper 'end pivolally connected as at 57 to the inner end of a lever arm 58 mounted on the. pivot 46. Pirotally connected to the upper end of the lever arm 58, is a link59 which is pivotal'ly connected to the link'42. Pivotally mounted on the pivot 53 and also pivotally connected to a llange 60 carried by the shiftable inner side wall 9 of the filing unit is a link 61. The upper end of the lever arm 54 is pivot-ally connected at 62 to the flange 60. The links` 40 and 42 provide means 'for swinging the side wall 8 of the filing unit to the position shown in Figure 2 and the lever 54 provides means for shifting the inner side wall 9 ot the tiling unit to the position shown in Figure 2. The lower end oit the part 36 of the link 5l is pivotally connected as at 63 to the lower end of the lever 58 and extending from the pivot 63 is an actuating link 64. The upstanding link 51 at one end ot the tiling unit and the upstanding link 51 at the upper end of the liling unit when engaged with the latches 38 prevent the shifting of the lid or closurev l'rom the position thereof as shown in Figure 2 or as shown in Figure 9, as long as said' links are engaged by the latches 38, but when disconnected from the latches 38, the closure 13 can be swung from the position as shown in Figure 2 upon the body portion of the unit so as lto provide a platform, rest, support or table. and lever 47 provide means ior shifting the lid to the position shown in Figure 2 and also to closure position with respect to the body portion of the unit and such position is as illustrate-d in Figure 9.

VEhe elements of the opening and closing mechanism, for a unit, arranged at one end o t the unit are connected to the elements of said mechanism arranged at the other end of thev unit, rby the actuating links 64 in connection with a coupling bar 64. See Figures 11, 12 and 13. The coupling bar 64 is positioned upon the outer side marginal portion oi the plate 19 and is provided at each end with an upturned flange 65 to which is pivotally connected an actuating link 64. The 'flanges 65v extend up through transverse slots 66 'formed in the bottom 10` orn the body portion of a unit, see Figure 13. The bottom 10 of said unit is 'furthermore The link 44v "provided atone 'e'nd with a'transversely ex- 4tending slot 67wh1'ch is 4'arranged inwardly with' Vrespect to andout ot alinement with the slotA 66 arranged at the outer end of the bottom 10 and in this connection see Figure 12.y The purpose oit the'slot 67 will be hereina-ttor referred to.

slidably mounting the 'coupling'bar 64, the tiling unit'can be 'shifted in a -direction towards the support for a typewriter or calculatingmachine and the position of the liling unit would be as shown in Figure 13.

carried bythe bar 29. lPivotally connected to the extension 22, as at 76, is a coupling link 77, which is also pivoted'as at 78 Ato the bottom `10 ofthe body portion ofa unit.

Pivotally connected to the extension 22, as at l79, is an inclined Vcoupling link 80, which is Vpivotally connected'as at 81 'to the bottom r10 of the body portionof'a unit.

By vthis arrangement the horizontal angular'uuit'can be swung to the position shown in Figure 13, when 'said unit is released. `\Vitl1'refei ence to Figure 18 a` yoke 82 is illustrated and which is connected as at 83 to the body vporvvtion of the filing 'unit and extends down through the bottom 10. Slots 84arel proyvided in the bottom 10 for the passage of the arms of the yoke, The yoke' surrounds the p'late 19 andbars 28 and 29. See Figure 18. Swivelly connected to thefyoke 82 and depending'therefrom, is a 'coupling member 85 :in 'which is slidably mounted a locking member 86 provided with an angularly disposed end portion 87 formed with a nose 88.

The locking member86 is pivotally connected as at 89 to ayoke 90, `see Figures 13 and 14. The yoke 90 is vsecured toy and depends from the inner end of the plate 19. The manner lin which the member 86 locks 'the unit tin the position shown in Figure 13, will be presently/referred to.

The coupling bar 64, with reference to :Figures 11 and 13 Yhasassociat'ed Itherewith a stop member 91'whichis secured to the lower face of the plate 19 'and extends up through 'a slot 92 formed in the inner portion of thefpl'ate 19. V'Thestop 'member 91 projects' above the plate 19 'and is positioned 'in the path "ofV the 'coupling bar 64. The

stop 91 preventsthe innerend of the filing 'unit fromvswinging inwardly oli' the plate' 19 ine 'directontoward'tlie support 'for' The coupling bar 64 is vslidab'ly mounted uponv `theplate 19.

the typewriter or calculating machine. The

stop 9.1 does not interfere with the swinging of the `tiling unit to the position shown in Figure 123. he filing unit is normally locked in the position shown in Figure 12, by a pivoted latch 93, which engages with a toothed bar 911 secured to the upper face of the plate 19 .near the inner end thereof. The latch 93 is pivotally connected as at 95 to the lower face of the bottom of the body port-ion of the filing unit. Associated with the-latch 93 is a spring controlled shifting clement therefor" and which consists of a rod 9G pivotally connected as at 97 to the latch 923 and extending through the outer end wall of the filing unit. The controlling spring for the rod 9G is indicated at 98 and is interposed between an end wall of a filing unit and a collar 99 fixed to therod 96. lWhen the latching member 93 is shifted from engagement with the bar 94:7 it is held against the action of 'the controlling `spring 98. When `said latching member 93 is shifted from engagement with the toothed bar 941, lthe filing unit can be swung to the position as shown in Figure 13. lVhen the filing unit is shifted to the position shown in Figure 12% the nose of the locking member 86 will engage an element to be hereinafter referred n 'o as to prevent the closing of the article of furniture.v until the filing unit is shifted to the position shown in Figure 12.

The plate 19, opposite that `end )rovided with the lug 26, is formed witi a lug 100.

(lonnnon to the filing units 1 and Band coninuni to the :tiling units 2 and l is an actuating shaft for the opening and closing nleclninisins for each pair of said units. vThe said actiniting shafts are referred to generally by the reference numeral 101 and which extend and pass through the plates 32, arranged at the front and rear ofthe combined desk and tile. Each shaft 101 extends through a pair' of opposed spacing platee 311 see Figure 17. The shafts 101 are operated in a manner as hereinafter referred to. lilach shaft 101 is provided with four crank arms as indicated at 102, 103, 1011-, 105 see Figures t and 1T. Each of said crank arms is bifurcated as indicated at 106. Pivotally connected to the lug formed on the suiiport for the tiling' unit 3 and with the lue 25 formed in the support for the filing unit l is a lever arm 107.` One of said lever arms 107 is pivotally connected to the crank arm 102 and the other of said lever arms is pivotally connected to the crank arm 105. libe slot 67 provides a liassage for the crank arni and its attached lever arm 107. when the crank arm 105, is swung upwardly. sce dotted line showing', Figure 10. livotally connected to the. lug 100 formed at 'the inner end of a support for each filing unit is a lever arm 108. The lever arm 108 carried by the support for the filing unit 1 or 3 is pivotally connected to the crank arm 103` and the lever arm 108 carried by the support for the filing unit 2 or ll is pivotally connected to the crank arm 104g. When the carriers for the supports move downwardly the lever arms in connection with the crank arms carried by the shafts 101 provide for the outward shifting of the supports carrying the filing units therewith and when the carriers move upwardly a reversed movement is had with respect to the supports and filing units, that is to say they are shifted inwardly.

'lhe truck conssts of a pair of oppositely disposed angle irons 109 and 110 and each of which is provided with a pair of wheels or rollers 111. The angle irons 109 and 110 are connected together by transversely eX- tending irons 112 for maintaining them in spaced relation. Arranged at the forward and rear ends of the angle iron k109 are boxings 113 and arranged at the ends of the angle irons are boxings 11d, see Figures 1 and 4. Journaled in the boXfngs 118 is a longitudinally extending shaft 115 having the portions thereof extended from said boxings 113 of. polygonal contour and the portions thereof within the boxing 118 of cylindrical contour see Figure 6. Journaled in the boxings 111 is a longitudinally extendine shaft. 116 having the portions thereof eX- tending from said boxings of polygonal contour and the portions mounted in the boxings of cylindrical contour.` The shaft 115 projects a substantial distance outwardly7 with respect to the boxings 118 and the shaft 116 projects a substantial distance outwardly with respect to the -boxings liet. Connected torone end of the shaft 115 and bodily shiftable therewith is a bifurcated link 117. Conn-ectedfto the outer end of the shaft 115 and bodily shiftabl-e therewith is a bfurcated link 118. Connected to the shaft 115 intermediate the ends thereof, as well. as bodily revolving therewith, is a bifurcated link 119. rlhe shaftll is provided with bifurcated links 120, 121 andv 122. Link.; 11T, 118 and 119 oppose respectively the links 120i 121, 122.` A. bracing element is interposed between the links 117 and 119, between the links 119 and 118, between .the links 120 and 121 and between the links 121 and 122. The bracing elements are of lf-shaped contour and are ixedly secured to the shafts 115 and 116 and also to the bifurcated links. The bracing elements are indicated at 128. The

rbracing elements move with the shafts 115 and 116 when 'these latter are shifted. The shafts 115 and 115 are smchronously operated and the connection to provide for such oi'ieration consists of a pair of oppositely disposed inclined connecting bars 1211 and 125. The bar 124 is pivotally coi'mected at its upper ench at 126m the link 121 .nil atitslower end as at 127 to the link 1 9.

" its upper end swung on a shaft 161.

The bar is pivotally connected as at 128 arms. lVith reference to Figure 3, the shaft to the link 119. The connection between the bar 125, and the link 119 being at the upper end of the bar 125, and the lower end of the latter is pivotally connected as at 129 to the lower end of the link 121. By this arrangement when either one of the shafts are actuated both shafts will move in unison. The mov-ement of the shafts when moving in unison. is in opposite directions with respect to each other. Then the shafts 115 and 116 are shifted to open the combined desk and tile the shaftsmoveA in an outward direction and when shifted to close the combined desk and file move in an inward direction.

Pivotally connected to the links 117 118, 126 and 122 is an upstanding link 130. Each link 130 is pivotally connected at its upper end as at 131 to a depending triangular plate` 32. The links 130 are pivoted against the rear face of the plates 32. See Figure 4. Pivotally connected to the link 119 as well as the link 121, is an upstanding link 132, which is pivotally connected as at 133 between a pair of upstanding links 134 and these latter have their upper ends pivotally connected as at 135, to a depending lever arm 136, which is mounted on a pivot 137 carried by a pair of opposed spacer plates 34. The lower end of the lever arm 136 is pivotally 4connected as at 138 to an angular extension 139 formed on one of the arms of the bifurcated link 119 or 121. The angular extension 139 is pivotallv connected as at 14() 1* to a air of unstandin'g links 141 which are fixed to a shaft 101. The upper end of the links 141, are fixed to a shaft 101 between the pair of spacer plates 34` see Figure 17.

The link 139, which may be termed an actuating or rock arm, has an angularly dis-.

posed portion 141 which extends inwardly with respect to a link 119 or link 121. See Figure 5. Pivotally connected to a link 117 or a link 118, or link 120 or link 122, is an actuating or rocker arm 142, formed of a pair of angularly disposed portions 143 and 144. The arms 142 carriedby the links` 117 and 122 are oppositely disposed with respect to each other and the arms 142 carried by the links 118 and 126 are oppositely disposed with respect to each other. The upper end portion 143 of each arm 142, is pivotally connected as at 145, see Figures 1 and 4, to one end of a link 146, which has The arms 132 perform the same function as the arms 142 with respect to elevating the support for the typewriters or calculating machine. The arms 132 and 142, carried by the links 117, 118 and 119 are connected together by a squared shaft 147 and which is bodily carried by said arms. The arms 132 Aand 142 carried by the links 121, 120 and 122 are connected together by a squared shaft 148 which bodily moves with said 147, is provided with four crank arms arranged in spaced relation and indicated at 149. rlhe shaft 148 is provided with four crank arms which are indicated at 149 and are arranged in spaced relation. The crank arms 149 are arranged in alinement or rather oppose the crank arms 149. One ofthe supports for a calculating machine or typewriter'Y is indicated at 150 and the other at 151 and` each of which consists of a rectangular frame and if desired the frame can be provided with a platform 152 suitably connected therewith. The support at oneside thereof is provided with a pair of oppositely extended inclined depending ears 152which are pivotally connected to a pair of cranklarms 149r and at the other side thereof with a pair of outwardly ezitended inclined ears 153 which are pivotally connected vto avpair of crank arms 149. The support 151 at one side thereof is provided with a pair of depending outwardly inclined ears154 which are pivotally connected to a pair of crank arms 149 and the support 151 at the other side thereof is provided with a pair of depending outwardly inclined ears 155 which are pivotally connected to'the other pair of crank arms 149. Thearrangement ofl t-he crank arms and ears in the mane nerv as aforesaid isclearly shown in Figure 3. The ears, in, connection with the crank arms, as well as the squared shafts 147 and 148, and in yconnection with the rocker arms provide for the elevating and lowering of the supports. lVhenthe supports are in an elevated position,l the rocker arms assume the positionshown in Figures 3 and 18 and when in a lowered position the parts are as illustrated in Figure 4.

At the inner end of each of said supports a mechanism or device is arranged to prevent the wabbling of the support or side! wise tilting tliereofwhen moved upwardly or downwardly and said mechanism used in connection with one support, is the saine in construction as that applied or used in connection with` the other support. Each of said mechanisms consists of a plate 156 which depends from the inner' end of a support and has pivotally connected therewith the lower end` of a curved link 157. The link 157 is outwardly curved and pivoted at its lowery end as at 158 to the plate 156. Pivoted intermediate its ends to the plate 156as at 159 is an outwardly curved lever arm 160, which has attached to its lower end as at 161 a pivoted link 162, and the latter ispivotally connected as at z163 to the link 157above its pivot 158. See Figure 5. Carried by the squared shaft 147 is a crank arm 164, which is pivoted at its upper end as at 165, to the lower end of a link 166 which has its upper end pivoted as at 167 to the lever 160, see Figure 5. Carried by the lill? lll) squared shaft 1 18 is a crank arm 168 which is pivotally connected at its upper end as at 169 to the lower end of a link 170, whirh has its `upper end pivoted as at 171 to the upper end of a link 157. On the elevating and .hiwering` of the support, the stabilizing mechanism therefor operates in opposite directions thereby providingwhat may be termed a uniform pull to prevent any possibiliti7 of the support tilting or wabbling on its vertical movement. The stabilizing` mechanism is also shown in Figure 6.

The combined desk and file further includes a means foroperating the same to assist in shifting the combined desk 'to open position and vto assist in the closing of the combined desk and file. This mechanism is best shown in Figures Gand 8 and in Figure 6 the mechanism is shown in position when the combined desk and file is closed and Figure 8 illustrates the arrangement of the parts of such mechanism when the combined desk and tile is open. lilith reference to Figure 1, the angle iron 169 of the truck 7, as well as the angle iron 116 of the truck 7, is provided with an upstandingr bracket. 'lhese brackets -are disposed at an angle and are indicated at 172, 173. The construction and arrangement of the brackets aforesaid are more clearly lshown in Figures 6 and 8. The brackets 172 and 173 are arranged inwardly with respect to the shafts 115` and 116. livotally connected to the boxings 113 and 114; at one end` of the machine, see Fig uros 1 and'6 is an inverted yoke-shaped'lever 171. rl`he pivots for the lower endsof the arms of the lever 174 are indicated at 175. @ce Figure 1. The upper portion of the arms of the lever 1741 are inset and each inset portion is provided on, its outer side with a keeper 176. Each arm of the lever 17st is provided with a stop member 177 and the function of which will be presently referred to. Pivoted to each arm of the lever 174 below the stop member 177`is a link 178, seeFigure 6. Asosciated wth each link 17 8 is pair of pulling Vmembers 179 and 180, best'shown inv Figure 1. The membei.; are maintained in spaced relation by a spacer 181 near the forward ends thereof. The forward ends of the pulling members 179 and 180 are pivotally connected as at 182 to the link 178, se@ Figures 1 and 6. The

members 179 and 180 at their inner ends straddle the bracket 172 or 173, see Figure 6. lilith reference to Figure 6, the said mechanism flirther includes a pair of oppositely disposed curved lever arms 183 and 184`and the curved ends of said arms are extended towiu'ds each other. The curved ends of the lever arms 188 and 184. are pivotally coni'icctcd as at 185 to a bracket 172 or 1.78. rlhe lever arms are arranged on each side of their associated bracket. The lever arm 188 has a portion 186 Vwhich extends from the brackets 172 and 178 at a downward in*- clination and the lever arm 181- lias an extension 187 which projects from the brackets 172, 173 at an upward and a :forward incliclination. The extension 186 of the lever arm 183 has a curved top edge as indicated at 188, see. Figure 6. li/lounted on the pivot 185 is a downwardly inclined link 189 and which can swing' on the pivot 18:3, The free end of the link 189 is provided with a slot 190. The pullingmembers 179 and 180 are connected together at their inner ends, at 191 and the connection carries a roller which travels in the slot 190. See Figure 6. The outer ends, or rather lower ends of the levers 183 and 1811, are pirotally connected as at 192, to the lower enus of an upetanding bar 198, which is pivotally connected as 19a to a` support, and as shown support 150.V

The extension 186 of the lever arm 188 is provided with a nose 195. Pivotally connected to the pivot 185 is a depending link 196, pivotally connected at its lower end, atV 197, to a link 198. which is pivotalljv connected as at 199, to the pullingI member 179. See Figure The extension 186 provides means for elevatingl the arm 198, and the extension 187 ineans for lowering the arm 193, and the action of the extensions will be more fully referred to.

It will be assumed that the parts are in the position shown in F inure 6, that lis to sa7 the parts of the elevating and lowering mechanism or rather attuatinnl mecbanism to provide for the initial start or for the shift of the combined desk and tile to open or closed position. By moving the lever 17Y downwardly, the st l members 177`will "engage the links 178 bnd which in turnV will pull the member 179 and 189 outward, and as the inenibeis 179 and move oiltwardly, the connection between the ends of said pulling'iniembers 179 and 186 indicatedk at 191 will ride against the ez;- tension 186 of the lever arm 183 and depress the same thereby providing' for an upward movement of the redor bar 19? and elevate the support 150, and the connections between the supports 150 and 151 and the iiiinp; cabinets willv be acluated, it obvious that the cabinets will be shifted to open position. llfhen the combined desk and hie has been shifted to open position the keepers 176 will enpgaee the extensions 260 see Figure 2. lrVhen the lever 17lis shifted to have its keepers engage the extensions 260, the parts of the mechanism will be as shown in dotted lines lin Figuie 8, with the connection 191 positioned against the inner edge of the extension 187, but the lever arms 188 and 184ias well as the rod or bar 198 will be infull line position fr: shown in Figure 8. The nose 195 provides means to have certain of the parts assume the dotted line position shown in F igure 8 when the lever .liti

with the extensions 200. Itwill be assumed that the parts are as shown in Figure 8, that is to say the `combined desk and file being` in open position, and it is desired to close the saine, the lever 17d is lowered whereby the pull members are moved outwardly as the pull members move outwardly the connection 191 engaging the extension 187 of the lever 184 will swing the same to the position as shown in Figure 6, and on the swinging of suchextension to said position, the lever arni 183 will be caused to assume the position shown in Figure 6, due tov the lowering of the bar 193, caused by the action of the connection 191, on the extension of the lever 184. lVhen the combined desk and file has been closed by the mechanism shown in Figures 6 Aand 8, the elements, of said mechanism, that is any one `of them which is in elevated position will move to the full lineposition shown in Figure 6 by gravity. t

The support 150 or 151, may be provided with a platform 201, carrying a typewriter or calculating machine 202, see Figure 21, and said platform has a depending bail 203, which carries a plate 20-1- which is swivelly connected as at 205 to a plate 20G. The plate 206 carries a coupling member 207 for detachably connecting with said plate 200 av pair of supporting devices each of which consists of an inverted yoke 208 pivotally connected at its lower end aslat 209. The yoke 208 extends `up through a support 150 or 151. Both yokes aie adapted to be detachably connected to the plate 206 by the coupling member 207 so as to maintain the platform 201 in the position shown in Figure 21, when a support 150 or 151 has been lowered. This attachment or supporting means or platform 201 is provided to maintain the calculating machine or typewriter' at the desired height so that it can be repaired or a ribbon connected therewith. This also provides a means'whereby it does not necessitate the typewriterv or calculating machineto be removed from the combineddesk and iile.

Although the lever 174 can be employed to open or close the combined desk and le yet by pulling one of theiiling units away from` the other, the desk can be moved to open position and by shifting one kof the filing units towards the other the desk and file will be moved to closedposition. Then engage the extensions 2 00 the combined desk is locked inopen position. lVhen a filing unit is shiftedA to the position shown in Figure 18, thelocking member 86 engages with an ear 210 carried by one of the links 13d, see Figures 5, 17 and 13. iVhen the filing unit is locked in the position as shown in Figure 13, the combined desk and file cannot be closed, until said filing unit is shifted to the position shown in Figure 12 or in other words released from an ear 210. lVhen a tiling unit is shifted to open position, as shown in Figure 2, the inner side wall, aswell askthe outer side wall of each unit is shifted away from the body portion thereof as shown in Figure 2 and further the outer side wall will depend below thel closure 13. lVhenthe. combined desk and file is shifted to closed position, the connections between the side walls of the unit and the end walls thereof will provide for the closing ofl said walls to permit the closure 18 to overlap the same in the manner as shown by Figure 5 of the drawing. The shifting of the side walls of each unit away from each other permits of papers or other niemoranda to be extended laterally to provide spacing partitions or to permit of such paper to be readily found when desired by the typist or calculator.

'ihe elements of the combined desk and iile are so set upy relatively to each other that when the typewriter or calculating machine is mounted on a support, the said typewriter or *calculating machine can be of any desired height. lv'hen the combined desk and tile is swung to open position, the weight of the filing unit tends to maintain the saine in such position. The elements of the combined desk and file ai'e so connected, that the yiiling units and supports will be synchronously shifted during the opening and closing movements of the desk and iile and when the latter is in closed position, the filing units actsas a protecting medium for the typewriters or calculating machines mounted on the supports. As the combined desk and-file is `coinpactfwhen in closed position andmounted on a portable supporting means it can be stored at any desired point and within a small space.

It is thought that the many advantages of an article of furniture for otlice use, such as a combination desk and file in accordance with this invention can be readily understood, and although the preferred einbodiment of the invention is as illustrated and described, yet it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction can be had which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

Wvhat I claim is:

1. A combined desk and file comprising normally lowered vertically movable support tor a typewriter or computing machine, a slidable support for each of said units, a carrier tor each slidable support, and link and lever mechanisms connected with said units supports and carriers and adapted when operated in one direction, to provide tor the simultaneously shitting of said units to open position and said vertically movable support to its uppermost position and when operating` in the opposite direction to lower said vertically movable support and` to shift said units to closed position and in sidewise abutting relation and further superposed with respect to the lowered support. f

2. A combined desk and file comprising a pair of oppositely movable, synchronously shiitable, normally closed tiling units, a normally lowered vertically movable support for a typewriter or computing machine, a slidable support ior each oi said units, a carrier for each slidable support, link and lever mechanisms connected with said units, supports and carriers and adapted when operated in one direction, to provide for the simultaneously shifting of said units to open position and said vertically movable support to its uppermost position and when operating in the opposite direction to lower said vertically movable support and to shift said units to closed position and in sidewise abutting relation and further superposed with respect to the lowered support, and means whereby each of said units, when in open position, can be swung towards said vertically movable support.

A combined desk and file comprising a pair of oppositely movable, synchronously shiitable, normally closed tiling units, a normally lowered vertically movable support for a typewriter or computing machine, a slidable support for each of said units, a carrier for each slidable support, link and lever mechanisms connected with said units, supports and carriers adapted when operated in one direction to provide -for the simultaneously shitting o t said units to open position and said vertically movable support to its uppermost position and when operating in the opposite direction to lower said `vertically movable support and to shift said units to closed position and in sidewise abutting relation and further superposed with respect to the lowered support, means whereby each of said units, when in open position, can be swung towards said vertically movable support, and means for locking the desk when the unit is swung towards said vertically movable sup ort. y

fl. A combineddesk and ile comprising a vertically movable support for carrying a typew or' computing machine, normal? ly ...fling units arranged over etti support, means for synchronously opening said units and elevating said support and `for positioning the units laterally with respect to the support. and means for swinging each unit, when in a lateral position with respect to the support, in a horizontal angular position towards the latter.

il ycombined desk and tile comprising a vertically movable support for carrying typewriter or computing machine. normallyclosed tiling units arranged over saidv support, means tor synchronously opening said units `and elevating said support and for positioning the units laterally with respect to the support, mea-ns for swinging each unit, when in a lateral position with respect to the support, towards the latter, and means for locking the desk when a unit is swung towards the support.

6. A combined desk and file comprising a vertically movable support for carrying a typewriter or computing machine, normally closed .tiling unit-s arranged over said support, each of said units including a shiftable closure, means for synchronously open- .ing said units and elevating said support and for positioning the units laterally with respect to the supports, and means whereby the shittable closure'for each unit when the latter is disposed laterally to the support can be swung upon the top of the unit to provide an arm rest or support.

7. A combined desk and tile comprising a vertically'movable support for carrying a typewriter or computing machine, normally closed tiling units arranged over ysaid support, each of said units including` al shittable closure, means for synchronously opening said units and elevating said support yand for positioning the units laterallywith respect to the supports, means whereby the shift-able closurev for each unit `when the latter is disposed laterally to the support can be swung upon the top of the unit to provide an arm rest or support, and a stabilizing device carried by the inner end oit said vertically movable support, connected therewith and with said means.

8. A combined desk and tile comprising a pair of oppositely movable, synchronously shiftable, normally closed filing units, a normally loweredv vertically movable support for a typewriter or computing machine, a slidable support for each of said units, a carrier tor each slidable support, link and lever mechanisms connected with said units, supports and carriers and adapted when operated in one direction, to provide for the simultaneously shifting of said units to open position and when operating in the opposite direction to lower said vertically movable support and to shift said units to elo d position and sidewise abuttin and farmers" perposed win sin, t, ma e lac connected to said vertically movable support, arranged at one end thereof, and turther connected with said link and lever mechanisms.

9. A combined desk and tile comprising a pair of oppositely movable, synchronously shittable, normally closed filing units, a normally lowered vertically movable support for a typewriter or computing machine, a slidable suppor-t 'for each of said units, a carrier `for each slidable support, link and lever mechanisms connected with said units, supports and carriers and adapted when operated in one direction to provide for the simultaneously shifting of said units to open position and said vertically movable support to its uppermost position and when operating in the opposite direction tolower said vertically movable support and to shift said units to closed position and in sidewise abutting relation and 'further superposed with respect to the lowered support, means whereby each of said units, when in open position, can be swung towards said vertically movable support, and a stabilizing device connected with said vertically movable support, arranged at the inner end thereof, and further connected with said link yand lever `mechanisms and operating synchronously during the vertical movement .of said .support.

10. A. comb-ined desk and tile comprising two pair of normally closed tiling units, the unit-s of each pair being shittable in opposite directions with respect to each other, an actuating shaft ,common to a unit ,of each of said pairs, a vertical-ly movable support for a typewriter or lcomputing machine common to a/-pair of units, and `link and lever mechanisms connected with said shafts,units and with said supports and providing means for Ysynchronously opening said units and elevating said supports and further for positioning each pair et' units laterally with respect to its associated support, and a stabilizing mechanism arranged at the inner end of and connected to each support, and further connected wit-h said link and lever mechanisms .to provide for kthe synchronous operation of the stabilizing mechanisms on the vertical movement of the supports.

1l. A combined desk and tile comprising two pai-r of normally closed tiling units, the units of .each pair being shiftable in `opposite directions with -respect to ,each other, an actuating shaft common to a unit of each of said pairs, a vertically movable support tor a typewriter .or computing Vmachine common to a pair of units, and link and lever mechanisms connected with said shafts, units and with' said supports and vproviding.means for synchronously :opening said units and elevating said supports andv further for'k positioning each pair of units laterally with respect to its associated support, a stabilizing mechanism arranged at the inner end ot and connected to each support and further connected with said link and lever' mechanisms to provide for the synchronous operation of .the stabilizing mechanisms on the vertial movement of the supports, and means to provide for the swinging of a liliug unit, when in lateral position, towards its respective support.

l2. A combined desk and tile comprising `a pair of oppositely movable, synchronously shittable, normally closed tiling units, a normally lowered vertically movable support for a typewriter or computing machine, a slidable support for each ot said units, a carrier for each support, and link and lever mechanisms connected with said units, supports and carriers and adapted whenvoperated in one direction to provide for the simultaneously shitting of said units to open position and said vertically movable support to its uppermost position and when operating in the opposite direction to lower said vertically movable support and to shift said units to closed position and in sidewise abutting relation and further lsuperposed with respect to the lowered support, and an operating mechanism connected to said vertically movable support to provide for the actuation oi' said link and lever mechanisms.

l. A combined desk and file comprising a vertically movable support for vcarrying a typewriter or computing machine, normally closed tiling units arranged over said support, link and lever mechanisms connected with said units and support and adapted when actuated in one direction to synchronously open said units and elevate said support and further position the units laterally with respect to the support and when actuated in the other direction to lower lwith said units and supports and adapted when actu-ated in one direction to synchron- A.ously open said units and elevate said support and .further position the units laterally with respect to the support and when actuated in the ,other direction to lower said support and synchronously close said units and further yposition said units in superposed relation with respect to the support, means for operating said link and lever mechanism in both directions, and means to provide tor 

